Spur vs Barb - What's the difference?
spur | barb | Related terms |
A rigid implement, often roughly y-shaped, that is fixed to one's heel for the purpose of prodding a horse. Often worn by, and emblematic of, the cowboy or the knight.
* 1598 , William Shakespeare, (Henry V) , Act IV, Scene VI, line 4:
* 1786 , Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons , page 22:
Anything that inspires or motivates, as a spur does to a horse.
* 1601 , (William Shakespeare), (Troilus and Cressida) , Act II, Scene II, line 198.
An appendage or spike pointing rearward, near the foot, for instance that of a rooster.
Any protruding part connected at one end, for instance a highway that extends from another highway into a city.
Roots, tree roots.
* 1609 , , Act IV, Scene II, line 57:
* 1610 , , act 5 scene 1
A mountain that shoots from another mountain or range and extends some distance in a lateral direction, or at right angles.
A spiked iron worn by seamen upon the bottom of the boot, to enable them to stand upon the carcass of a whale to strip off the blubber.
(carpentry) A brace strengthening a post and some connected part, such as a rafter or crossbeam; a strut.
(architecture) The short wooden buttress of a post.
(architecture) A projection from the round base of a column, occupying the angle of a square plinth upon which the base rests, or bringing the bottom bed of the base to a nearly square form. It is generally carved in leafage.
Ergotized rye or other grain.
A wall in a fortification that crosses a part of a rampart and joins to an inner wall.
(shipbuilding) A piece of timber fixed on the bilgeways before launching, having the upper ends bolted to the vessel's side.
(shipbuilding) A curved piece of timber serving as a half to support the deck where a whole beam cannot be placed.
To prod (especially a horse) in the side or flank, with the intent to urge motion or haste, to gig.
* 1592 , William Shakespeare, Richard III , Act V, Scene III, line 339:
To urge or encourage to action, or to a more vigorous pursuit of an object; to incite; to stimulate; to instigate; to impel; to drive.
* 1599 , William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night , Act III, Scene IV, line 4.
* '>citation
To put spurs on; as, a spurred boot.
A spurious tone, one that interferes with a signal in a circuit and is often masked underneath that signal.
The point that stands backward in an arrow, fishhook, etc., to prevent it from being easily extracted. Hence: Anything which stands out with a sharp point obliquely or crosswise to something else.
* :
(figuratively) A hurtful or disparaging remark.
A beard, or that which resembles it, or grows in the place of it.
*
Armor for a horse, corrupted from bard.
* 1786 , Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons , page 29:
(ornithology) One of the side branches of a feather, which collectively constitute the vane.
(zoology) Several species of freshwater fish of the cyprinid family.
(zoology) A southern name for the kingfishes of the eastern and southeastern coasts of the United States; also improperly called whiting.
(botany) A hair or bristle ending in a double hook.
(zoology) A blackish or dun variety of the pigeon, originally brought from Barbary.
(obsolete) A muffler, worn by nuns and mourners.
Paps, or little projections, of the mucous membrane, which mark the opening of the submaxillary glands under the tongue in horses and cattle. The name is mostly applied when the barbs are inflamed and swollen. [Written also barbel and barble.]
(obsolete) A bit for a horse.
A plastic fastener, shaped roughly like a capital I (with serifs), used to attach socks etc. to their packaging.
To furnish with barbs, or with that which will hold or hurt like barbs, as an arrow, fishhook, spear, etc.
*(John Milton) (1608-1674)
*:But rattling storm of arrows barbed with fire.
*
*:Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. Indeed, a nail filed sharp is not of much avail as an arrowhead; you must have it barbed , and that was a little beyond our skill.
To cover a horse in armor, corrupted from bard.
*1592 , (William Shakespeare), , Act I, Scene I, line 10:
*:And now, in stead of mounting barbed steeds / To fright the souls of fearful adversaries, / He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber.
(lb) To shave or dress the beard of.
(lb) To clip; to mow.
:(Marston)
The Barbary horse, a superior breed introduced from Barbary into Spain by the Moors.
A blackish or dun variety of pigeon, originally brought from Barbary.
Spur is a related term of barb.
As nouns the difference between spur and barb
is that spur is tire marks while barb is (label) a fan of the american singer (nicki minaj), especially a female one.As a proper noun barb is
a diminutive of the female given name barbara.spur
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) (m).Noun
(en noun)- Lives he, good uncle? thrice within this hour I saw him down; thrice up again, and fighting; From helmet to the spur all blood he was.
- Two sorts of spurs seem to have been in use about the time of the Conquest, one called a pryck, having only a single point like the gaffle of a fighting cock; the other consisting of a number of points of considerable length, radiating from and revolving on a center, thence named the rouelle or wheel spur.
- But, worthy Hector, She is a theme of honour and renown, A spur to valiant and magnanimous deeds...
- I do note / That grief and patience, rooted in them both, / Mingle their spurs together.
- [...] the strong-bas'd promontory
- Have I made shake; and by the spurs pluck'd up
- The pine and cedar
Derived terms
* spur-of-the-momentVerb
(spurr)- Draw, archers, draw your arrows to the head! Spur your proud horses hard, and ride in blood; Amaze the welkin with your broken staves!
- My desire / (More sharp than filed steel) did spur me forth...
Derived terms
* spur onEtymology 2
See sparrow.Etymology 3
Short for spurious.Noun
(en noun)barb
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl)Noun
(en noun)- Having two barbs or points.
- The barbel, so called by reason of his barbs, or wattles in his mouth.
- The defensive armor with the horses of the ancient knights ... These are frequently, though improperly, stiled barbs .
- (Spenser)